The Riigikogu elected Vice-Presidents at the opening sitting of the autumn session.

At the extraordinary election Rein Lang, Toomas Varek and Peeter Kreitzberg were nominated as candidates for Vice-Presidents.

At a secret voting Rein Lang was elected the first Vice-President of the Riigikogu (39 votes in favour) and Peeter Kreitzberg was elected the Vice-President of the Riigikogu (29 votes in favour). Toomas Varek got 28 votes in favour and was not elected.

At the opening of the fourth session of the Riigikogu plenary assembly the President of the Riigikogu Ene Ergma and the President of the Republic Arnold Rüütel made speeches.

The alternate members of the Riigikogu Mart Nutt, Tõnu Kõiv and Mihhail Lotman took the oath of office before the Riigikogu. Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Märt Rask and Minister of Economic Affairs and Communications Andrus Ansip also took the oaths of office.

Prime Minister Juhan Parts replied to three interpellations.

Members of the Riigikogu Vilja Savisaar, Eldar Efendijev, Ain Seppik, Toomas Varek, Mihhail Stalnuhhin, Vladimir Velman and Toivo Tootsen submitted the interpellation (No. 70) concerning possible violations of law in connection with distribution of resources proceeding from fuel excise duties through the state budget on May 13.

The text of the interpellation (in Estonian) is available on the internet: http://web.riigikogu.ee/ems/saros-bin/mgetdoc?itemid=041340001&login=proov&password=&system=ems&server=ragne11

On behalf of the interpellators Toomas Varek stated.Today the Republic of Estonia Roads Act clearly stipulates that the state must finance the construction and management of roads and streets within the range of 75 per cent from the resources proceeding from fuel excise duties. Actually only 50 per cent of the excise proceeds is allocated for the roads today. For concealing the non-purposeful use of the excise money the Government uses the European Union aid. Up till now the Government has unfortunately in no way responded to those reproaches. The press has repeatedly brought attention to the bad condition of roads in Tallinn as well as in the whole state.

Prime Minister replied to the interpellators among other things: ?We continue to hold the position that besides state revenues, it is also possible to use the funding from EU pre-accession measures and Structural Funds, specifically meant for the construction and repair of roads, as sources to finance road management expenses, the amount of which is determined by the law. Pursuant to the State Budget Act, the foreign aid forms a part of the state budget.

11 Members of the Riigikogu submitted the interpellation (No.75) concerning the performance of duties imposed on the Government of the Republic by the state budget on May 19.

14 Members of the Riigikogu submitted the interpellation (No. 85) concerning the restitution of St. Nicholas Church on June 3.

The text of the interpellation (in Estonian) is available on the Internet: http://web.riigikogu.ee/ems/saros-bin/mgetdoc?itemid=041340001&login=proov&password=&system=ems&server=ragne11

Minister of Justice Ken-Marti Vaher replied to the interpellation (No.71) concerning the actual implementation of benefits prescribed by the Repressed Persons Act, submitted on May 13 by Members of the Riigikogu Andres Herkel, Helir-Valdor Seeder and Tunne Kelam.

The text of the interpellation (in Estonian) is available on the Internet: http://web.riigikogu.ee/ems/saros-bin/mgetdoc?itemid=041340001&login=proov&password=&system=ems&server=ragne11

Minister of Social Affairs Marko Pomerants replied to the interpellation (no.74) concerning the quorum and decisions of the meeting of the Supervisory Board of the Estonian Health Insurance Fund of April 16, submitted on May 18 by Members of the Riigikogu Marika Tuus, Heimar Lenk and Küllo Arjakas.

The text of the interpellation (in Estonian) is available on the Internet: http://web.riigikogu.ee/ems/saros-bin/mgetdoc?itemid=041340001&login=proov&password=&system=ems&server=ragne11

Minister of Finance Taavi Veskimägi replied to three interpellations.

Members of the Riigikogu Evelyn Sepp, Ain Seppik, Vladimir Velman, Toivo Tootsen, Jüri ?ehovtsov and Enn Eesmaa submitted the interpellation (No.68) concerning the performance of financial obligations of the state with regard to Tallinn and other local governments on May 12.

The text of the interpellation in Estonian) is available on the Internet: http://web.riigikogu.ee/ems/saros-bin/mgetdoc?itemid=041340001&login=proov&password=&system=ems&server=ragne11

11 Members of the Riigikogu submitted the interpellation (No.78) concerning the use of the means of foreign aid on May 19.

The text of the interpellation in Estonian) is available on the Internet: http://web.riigikogu.ee/ems/saros-bin/mgetdoc?itemid=041340001&login=proov&password=&system=ems&server=ragne11

Members of the Riigikogu Ain Seppik, Evelyn Sepp, Toivo Tootsen, Vladimir Velman and Arnold Kimber submitted the interpellation (No.79) concerning the raise in port dues on May 20.

The text of the interpellation (in Estonian) is available on the Internet: http://web.riigikogu.ee/ems/saros-bin/mgetdoc?itemid=041340001&login=proov&password=&system=ems&server=ragne11

The replies to all the named interpellations can be found in the verbatim records of the Riigikogu sitting (in Estonian) on the following Internet address: http://web.riigikogu.ee/ems/plsql/session_plan.form

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On the motion of the leading committees two Bills were excluded from the agenda for the working week: on the motion of the Social Affairs Committee the Bill on Amendments to § 22 of the Social Welfare Act (344 SE) and on the motion of the Constitutional Committee the Bill on Amendments to the Citizenship Act (393 SE).

The sitting ended at 8 p.m.

The Riigikogu Press Service